Tigers third at Five Mans

Through the first half of the season, Princeton's No. 2 men's squash team (4-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy League) has found little difficulty in dispatching its intercollegiate foes. This past weekend at the Five Man Team Championship, hosted by the United States Squash Racquets Association at Yale University, the Tigers had the opportunity to step up the level of competition and test their game against some of the top professionals in the nation.

After playing four grueling matches in 48 hours, Princeton's top five emerged with a wealth of confidence and experience. The Orange and Black tallied three victories and only one loss — in the semifinal match against the eventual champion — and claimed third place.

After cruising past a New York City team in the first round, the Tigers were challenged for the first time this season by a team of Yale alumni. Led by Julian Illingworth, a two-time national champion and four-time All-American who is pursuing a professional career, the Bulldogs earned wins at the No. 1 and No. 4 spots. Princeton, however, countered with a sweep of the remaining three matches to advance to the semifinals.

Here the Tigers met the tournament's top team, a group of professionals from Hartford, Conn. The professionals proved to be too strong for Princeton, claiming a decisive 4-1 victory. The team would later defeat collegiate No. 1 Trinity to capture the tournament title.

In the match for third place, the Tigers faced another squad of professionals, this one representing a collection of clubs in Philadelphia. Princeton battled through a series of close contests and emerged with a narrow upset victory, 3-2.

Individually, the Tigers were led by the sensational sophomore trio of Mauricio Sanchez, Kimlee Wong and Hesham El Halaby. Displaying experience beyond their years, these three compiled a collective record of 9-3 on the weekend.

Wong, a first-team All-Ivy selection last year, continued his impressive play, winning all four of his matches at the No. 2 spot. Utilizing a tremendous combination of quickness, finesse and an uncompromising work ethic, he has established himself as one of the strongest No. 2 players in the nation.

"Kim is playing fabulous squash," senior Preston Comey said. "This weekend was great for him, as he was able to play some new players that really challenged him. The fact that he came away without a loss says a lot about his character and talent."

Along with these three, Princeton was represented by Comey and fellow senior, tri-captain Michael Gilman. Playing No. 4, the highest position of his career, Comey went 1-3, while Gilman was a level 2-2.

Princeton was also represented by a second team, comprised of Nos. 6 through 10 on the ladder, including freshmen Santiago Imberton and David Canner. While the team had mixed results, the tournament was a great opportunity for the players to continue learning and developing their skills.

Most importantly, senior Vincent Yu returned after a hand injury that had sidelined him for the first half of the season. While Yu, who played as high as No. 2 his freshman year, will require a few more matches before reaching full stride, his talent will undoubtedly strengthen the Tiger lineup.

"Vincent is regaining his form and beat one of the top U.S. juniors in convincing fashion this weekend," head coach Bob Callahan '77 said.

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Though these matches do not count toward Princeton's team record, they provided valuable experience and training for the Tigers as they prepare for their upcoming collegiate showdowns. In addition, the professionals provided the undergraduates with some advice to aid them in future matches.

"It was great to play some matches against completely different players," El Halaby said. "These guys have devoted their lives to the game, and there is a lot we can learn from them, both from their strategy on the court, [and from] their preparation."

The marathon of matches, while exhausting the Princeton squad, is an important step as they escalate their training. As always, Callahan hopes his players will peak physically in late January, when the most important matches are played.

The Tigers will have plenty of time to rest as they now enter winter break and exam period. They do not return to action until Jan. 31, when they square off against Penn in Jadwin Gymnasium.